Preview:
Friday we play WSU at Maples at 7pm, in a game televised on Pac 12 networks.
WSU has never beaten Stanford in more than 50 tries. For years I have written about halfway plausible scenarios in which WSU finally get their first win over Stanford. But WSU may only have a couple more chances--since it is seems unlikely we will schedule them once we join the ACC. Pullman is a difficult road trip and we will have more than enough of those.
Last year we played WSU only once. It was a 71-38 blowout win on WSU’s home court, in a game attended by our sideline reporter Martyup. We thought we had wrighted the ship after winning 5 in a row following the depressing loss at USC. But two days later we lost at Washington.
Last year’s thread is here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...tanford+71
This year we have a home-and-away, and the first game is at Maples.
This year, WSU is 11-3, is unranked but Massey has them at 28. They are coming off a close loss at Auburn on December 20, and so we are their first game after their break. Probably their best win was an overtime victory over Gonzaga in Pullman.
We know the top two Cougars very well. Leading in scoring is Bella Murakatete, a 5th year, 6’3” center who is averaging 14 ppg and 8 rpg on 72% shooting. She has matured and improved over the last couple of years. She has overpowered lesser opponents, but Iriafen and Brink will be tougher defenders than she usually faces.
Even more famous is Charlise Leger-Walker, the point-guard who is shooting 13 ppg and snagging a surprising number of rebounds and dishing copious numbers of assists. Her three point shooting this year, however, has been off, at .186—and it has not been for a lack of trying. Over the last 5 games she is 0-16, which is the definition of a slump. Even so, she came one rebound away from a triple double in WSU’s loss to Auburn.
Astera Tuhina, the sophomore guard from Serbia, and Tara Wallach, from Canada, are also familiar players. Both of them are just off double digit scoring.
WSU has some new faces, too. 5’8” freshman Eleanora Villa, from Italy, is their best three point shooter at 39% and has started and averages 11 ppg in 27 minutes.
WSU has a +19 scoring margin as a team this year, and leads its opponents in most categories. The fact that they beat Gonzaga should give our team something to think about. WSU will be hungry for a win and highly motivated. Holding them to 3 points in the first quarter—as we did a year ago—would be a good way to start.
Friday we play WSU at Maples at 7pm, in a game televised on Pac 12 networks.
WSU has never beaten Stanford in more than 50 tries. For years I have written about halfway plausible scenarios in which WSU finally get their first win over Stanford. But WSU may only have a couple more chances--since it is seems unlikely we will schedule them once we join the ACC. Pullman is a difficult road trip and we will have more than enough of those.
Last year we played WSU only once. It was a 71-38 blowout win on WSU’s home court, in a game attended by our sideline reporter Martyup. We thought we had wrighted the ship after winning 5 in a row following the depressing loss at USC. But two days later we lost at Washington.
Last year’s thread is here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...tanford+71
This year we have a home-and-away, and the first game is at Maples.
This year, WSU is 11-3, is unranked but Massey has them at 28. They are coming off a close loss at Auburn on December 20, and so we are their first game after their break. Probably their best win was an overtime victory over Gonzaga in Pullman.
We know the top two Cougars very well. Leading in scoring is Bella Murakatete, a 5th year, 6’3” center who is averaging 14 ppg and 8 rpg on 72% shooting. She has matured and improved over the last couple of years. She has overpowered lesser opponents, but Iriafen and Brink will be tougher defenders than she usually faces.
Even more famous is Charlise Leger-Walker, the point-guard who is shooting 13 ppg and snagging a surprising number of rebounds and dishing copious numbers of assists. Her three point shooting this year, however, has been off, at .186—and it has not been for a lack of trying. Over the last 5 games she is 0-16, which is the definition of a slump. Even so, she came one rebound away from a triple double in WSU’s loss to Auburn.
Astera Tuhina, the sophomore guard from Serbia, and Tara Wallach, from Canada, are also familiar players. Both of them are just off double digit scoring.
WSU has some new faces, too. 5’8” freshman Eleanora Villa, from Italy, is their best three point shooter at 39% and has started and averages 11 ppg in 27 minutes.
WSU has a +19 scoring margin as a team this year, and leads its opponents in most categories. The fact that they beat Gonzaga should give our team something to think about. WSU will be hungry for a win and highly motivated. Holding them to 3 points in the first quarter—as we did a year ago—would be a good way to start.
